Petition for prisoner in Saudi Arabia

The appeal court in Saudi Arabia has confirmed the earlier sentence (1000 lashes and 10 years in prison) for Ensaf Haidar. Lashes can be lethal. This sentence is given for blogging, which is seen as a crime by the Saudi Arabian government. More info.

Meanwhile WOSM runs the Messengers of Peace program. This program was initiated by Saudi Arabia and supported by a 37 million US Dollar donation.

There is little we can do about , because Saudi Arabia is ignoring all foreign appeals. If we can do something, we should make clear that we do not like a Messengers of Peace program that is initiated and supported by an undemocratic government that has no peace intentions. You can do this by contacting your International Commissioner, tell your opinion and ask for action.

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Dear Scouts,

Saudi Arabia donated 37 million US Dollar to our World Organisation of the Scouts Movement for the Messengers of Peace program.

The same Saudi Arabia is one of the least democratic countries in the world. Please read the appeal of Ensaf Haidar below. Please sign the petition if you think this is not good.

For us the question: What is the intention of the Saudi Arabia government by supporting our Messengers of Peace program? Do we as scouts want to be associated with this administration?

Ensaf Haidar wrote:

Dear Scouts,

His hands and feet in shackles, his face contorted with pain, for everyone to see. It's unbearable to think this is how they publicly flogged my husband, 50 times over. Now I hear he could even be executed -- but you can help me save him!

My name is Ensaf Haidar and Raif is my husband. Last year, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" -- his crime was that he voiced his opinion on a blog. Raif is a peaceful man and a loving father -- our three children and I miss him dearly and we fear for his life. Now Germany could help us free him: in 48 hours, Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Minister of Economic Affairs, will travel to Saudi Arabia -- and if he uses his influence to take a stand for Raif, he could spur Saudi leaders to reconsider.

I have personally asked Sigmar Gabriel for help. But my voice alone is not strong enough. That's why I ask you to support my appeal so that we can see him off with a huge call from around the world to negotiate Raif's release. Please join me now and share this with everyone you know:

A few years ago, my husband Raif Badawi started a blog called "Free Saudi Liberals". He wanted to write about politics and religion, and address social and political issues. But the Saudi judiciary accused him of insulting Islam -- a charge that carries harsh punishments. And Raif's penalty doesn't only affect him: his public lashing sends a warning signal to anyone wanting to express similar thoughts.

Raif and I met 15 years ago. We married two years later and soon after I was already pregnant with my first child. When my husband got into trouble with the authorities in 2008, he asked us to flee the country: we travelled from Egypt to Lebanon and finally arrived in Canada, where my children and I were granted asylum. But now we can't just sit here and watch -- we want Raif to come back to us!

Many people in my country want reform and international attention to Raif's plight is rising. Sigmar Gabriel has already said he'll address human rights during his visit. Please add your voice to my plea -- our appeal now could set my husband free.